dashcam

Abstract

To enable taking a photograph of a landmark even during traveling of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A drive recorder 110 for mounting on a vehicle 100 comprises a camera 111 and a processing device 112. When it is recognized that a landmark is contained in video captured by the camera 111, the processing device 112 executes processing for setting a shutter speed and a timing of capture for taking a photograph of the landmark on the basis of vehicle speed, and processing for taking a photograph of the landmark at the set shutter speed and timing of capture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive recorder mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that provides tourist guidance by voice when an object for tourist guidance is photographed by a drive recorder mounted on a vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A landmark is known as an object for tourist guidance. This landmark is a famous building or landscape. Here, it is difficult for a vehicle driver to take a photo of a landmark while the vehicle is in motion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The drive recorder for solving the above problems is mounted on a vehicle and includes a camera and a processing device. When the processing device recognizes that a landmark is shown in the video captured by the camera, the processing device sets a shutter speed and a shooting timing for taking a photo of the landmark based on the vehicle speed, and takes the photo at the shutter speed and the shooting timing.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] This drive recorder can take a photo of a landmark even while the vehicle is in motion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle equipped with a drive recorder according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processing steps performed by the drive recorder's processing unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Below, an embodiment of a drive recorder installed in a vehicle will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. <Vehicle Configuration> As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 100 is equipped with a drive recorder 110 and a navigation device 120.

[0009] The drive recorder 110 comprises a camera 111, a processing unit 112, and a storage unit 114. The camera 111 captures images of the area in front of the vehicle as seen from inside the vehicle. The processing unit 112 performs various processes by executing programs stored in ROM or the like. The processing unit 112 includes a processor. The processing unit 112 performs image analysis on the images captured by the camera 111. For example, the processing unit 112 determines through image analysis whether or not a landmark is visible in the images captured by the camera 111. A landmark is a well-known building or landscape. The storage unit 114 stores the images captured by the camera 111 and other data.

[0010] The navigation device 120 comprises a display 121, a processing unit 122, and a storage device 124 that stores data such as map information. The processing unit 122 includes a processor and performs various processes by executing programs stored in ROM or the like. In addition, the navigation device 120 also includes a satellite positioning system receiver, a communication device for communicating with an external server, and an input device.

[0011] The drive recorder 110 and the navigation device 120 are connected so that they can exchange information with each other. <Processing performed by the drive recorder's processing unit> Figure 2 shows the processing procedure that the processing unit 112 of the drive recorder 110 executes at predetermined intervals. In the following, the step number of each process is represented by a number preceded by "S".

[0012] When this process is started, the processing unit 112 determines whether or not a landmark has been recognized (S100). In the process of S100, the processing unit 112 performs the following processes, for example. First, the processing unit 112 obtains images of landmarks around the current location of the vehicle 100 from the storage 124 of the navigation device 120 and uses the obtained images as judgment images. Next, the processing unit 112 performs matching analysis between the video data captured by the camera 111 and the judgment images to determine whether or not landmarks are visible in the video captured by the camera 111. If it is determined that landmarks are visible in the video captured by the camera 111, the processing unit 112 determines that the landmarks have been recognized. On the other hand, if it is determined that landmarks are not visible in the video captured by the camera 111, the processing unit 112 determines that the landmarks have not been recognized.

[0013] Next, the processing unit 112 instructs the navigation device 120 to provide route guidance to a shooting location suitable for photographing landmarks (S110). Information on shooting locations suitable for photographing landmarks is pre-registered in the map information held by the navigation device 120. Note that the shooting location information may also be obtained from an external server via communication. Furthermore, a shooting location suitable for photographing landmarks could be, for example, a shooting location of a landmark from which a visually appealing photograph can be taken.

[0014] Next, the processing unit 112 determines whether the vehicle occupant has authorized the execution of route guidance to the shooting location (S120). In the process of S120, for example, the processing unit 122 displays a message on the display 121 of the navigation device 120 to ask whether or not to execute route guidance. If the vehicle occupant performs an operation to authorize the execution of route guidance in response to this inquiry, the processing unit 122 determines that the execution of route guidance has been authorized. The navigation device 120 then starts route guidance to the shooting location. On the other hand, if the driver or the like performs an operation to deny the execution of route guidance, the processing unit 122 determines that the execution of route guidance has not been authorized. The navigation device 120 then does not execute route guidance to the shooting location.

[0015] In the process of S120, if it is determined that the execution of route guidance is permitted (S120: YES), the processing unit 122 executes the process of S130. In the process of S130, the processing unit 122 sets the arrival timing of the vehicle 100 arriving at the above-mentioned shooting position as the shooting timing. In the process of S130, the processing unit 122 sets the said shooting timing based on the vehicle speed SP of the vehicle 100. The shooting timing is the timing for the camera 111 to take a photograph of the recognized landmark. For example, this shooting timing may be set as the time required for the vehicle 100 to enter a predetermined range from the shooting position. This time is calculated based on the distance from the vehicle 100 to the shooting position calculated from the position information of the vehicle 100 and the position information of the shooting position, and the vehicle speed SP.

[0016] On the other hand, if the system determines in processing S120 that route guidance is not permitted (S120: NO), the processing unit 122 executes the processing in S140. In processing S140, the processing unit 122 sets the arrival timing of the vehicle 100's arrival at the recognized landmark as the shooting timing. In processing S130, the processing unit 122 sets the shooting timing based on the vehicle speed SP of the vehicle 100. This shooting timing is also the timing for the camera 111 to take a photograph of the recognized landmark. For example, this shooting timing may be set to the time required for the vehicle 100's position to enter a predetermined range from the position of the recognized landmark. This time is calculated based on the distance from the vehicle 100 to the landmark calculated from the vehicle 100's position information and the landmark's position information, and the vehicle speed SP.

[0017] When the shooting timing is set in the process of S130 or S140, the processing unit 112 determines whether or not it is currently the shooting timing (S150). If it is determined that it is not the shooting timing (S150: NO), the processing unit 112 repeatedly executes the process of S130 until it is determined that it is currently the shooting timing.

[0018] In the process of S150, if it is determined that it is time to take a picture (S150: YES), the processing unit 112 sets the shutter speed for taking a picture of the landmark with the camera 111 based on the current vehicle speed SP (S160). In the process of S160, the processing unit 112 sets the shutter speed such that the higher the vehicle speed SP, the faster the set shutter speed becomes.

[0019] Next, the processing device 112 takes a photo of the landmark (S170). In the process of S170, the processing device 112 operates the camera 111 using the shutter speed set in the process of S160 to take a photo of the recognized landmark and stores the captured data in the storage 114. Note that the captured data may be uploaded to an external server or the like and stored in the external server.

[0020] When the process of S170 is completed, or when a negative determination is made in the process of S100, the processing device 122 temporarily ends this process. <Operation and Effect> The operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0021] (1) When a landmark appears in the video captured by the camera 111, the process of S130 or S140 shown in FIG. 2 is executed, so that the shooting timing for taking a photo of the landmark is set based on the vehicle speed SP. Further, when the process of S160 shown in FIG. 2 is executed, the shutter speed for taking a photo of the landmark is set based on the vehicle speed SP. Then, when the process of S170 shown in FIG. 2 is executed, a photo of the landmark is automatically taken at the set shooting timing and shutter speed. Therefore, a photo of the landmark can be taken even while the vehicle is running.

[0022] (2) A photo of the landmark can be taken even while the vehicle is running. Therefore, for example, even if the vehicle 100 is parked and the vehicle driver does not get off the vehicle 100, the vehicle driver can take a photo of the landmark.

[0023] Furthermore, if the vehicle 100 were to be stopped while in motion, and the driver were to get out of the vehicle 100 to take a photograph of a landmark, the vehicle 100 would have to be stopped while in motion, which could interfere with the driving of the vehicle 100. In this embodiment, however, since the photograph of the landmark is taken automatically, it is possible to avoid such photography interfering with driving.

[0024] (3) When the camera 111 recognizes that a landmark is visible in the image it has captured, the process S110 shown in Figure 2 is executed, and the navigation device 120 is instructed to provide route guidance to a shooting position suitable for photographing the landmark. As a result, a photograph of the landmark can be taken at a more appropriate position.

[0025] (4) If the vehicle occupant authorizes route guidance to the above shooting location, the process S130 shown in Figure 2 is executed, and the timing of the vehicle 100's arrival at the above shooting location is set as the shooting timing. As a result, a photograph of the landmark can be taken at a shooting location suitable for photographing the landmark.

[0026] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0027] • The navigation device 120 described above executes route guidance only when the vehicle occupant authorizes its execution. In contrast, the navigation device 120 may adopt a configuration that starts route guidance without requiring the vehicle occupant's permission. This modification can be realized by deleting the processes S120 and S140 shown in Figure 2, and by executing the process S130 after the process S110.

[0028] When the processing unit 112 recognizes that a landmark is visible in the image captured by the camera 111, it instructs the navigation device 120 to provide route guidance to the aforementioned shooting location. In addition, the processes related to such route guidance instructions may be omitted. This modified example can be realized by deleting the processes S110, S120, and S130 shown in Figure 2, and executing the process S140 if the process S100 is deemed positive.

[0029] The processing unit 112 is not limited to one that includes a processor and ROM to perform software processing. For example, it may include a dedicated hardware circuit, such as an ASIC, to perform hardware processing for at least a portion of what is processed by software in the above embodiment. That is, the processing unit may have any of the following configurations (a) to (c): (a) A processing unit that performs all of the above processing according to a program, and a program storage device such as a ROM that stores the program. (b) A processing unit and a program storage device that perform a portion of the above processing according to a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that performs the remaining processing. (c) A dedicated hardware circuit that performs all of the above processing. Here, the software execution device equipped with the processing unit and program storage device, and the dedicated hardware circuit may be one or any number of them. That is, the above processing can be performed by a processing circuit equipped with at least one of one or more software execution devices and one or more dedicated hardware circuits. The program storage device, i.e., computer-readable medium, includes any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 100...vehicles 110... Dashcam 111...Camera 112… Processing Unit 114…Storage 120…Navigation device 121…Display 122... Processing Unit 124... Storage

Claims

[Claim 1] A drive recorder that is mounted on a vehicle and includes a camera and a processing unit, The aforementioned vehicle is equipped with a navigation system, The map information contained in the aforementioned navigation device includes information on suitable shooting locations for photographing landmarks. The aforementioned processing apparatus is If the camera recognizes that the landmark is visible in the image it has captured, it instructs the navigation device to provide route guidance to the location where the image was taken. When the vehicle occupant authorizes route guidance to the aforementioned shooting location, the system calculates the arrival time of the vehicle at the shooting location based on the vehicle speed and sets that arrival time as the shooting time. When the aforementioned shooting timing occurs, the shutter speed for taking a photograph of the landmark is set based on the vehicle speed, The process involves taking a photograph of the landmark using the set shutter speed, and performing the following: Dashcam.

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